Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Twilight series characters. They all belong to Stephanie Meyer. L

Authors Note: I want to thank all of my reviewers for taking the time to give me feedback on what you think about the story. You guys are the best! So I decided to dedicate this chapter to you. I hope you guys like it as much as I loved and enjoyed writing it.

Chapter 8

Morning had come quicker than I thought. Edward had come as usual last night but had to leave early this morning to pose for the designer that was making his wedding tux. I, off course, had no objection towards him leaving since I was meeting Jacob in a couple of minutes to eat breakfast and 'talk'. For some reason I was feeling a little anxious about this morning. I'm not usually the type of girl that would worry too much about her appearance but right now I was looking straight at my wardrobe thinking what looked good enough for me to wear this morning. 'What am I doing? This is Jacob we're talking about. I don't need to start worrying about this right now.' I picked a black tank and some jeans to go with it, fixed my hair and headed downstairs to let Charlie know where I was going.

"Wow, you're up early."

"I'm going to go have a talk with Jake." He gave me a questioning look but I ignored it. Since Edward could read thoughts, I figured the less I told my dad the better.

"You're going to talk with Jake? This early? I don't think he's even up yet."

"He is. See you later dad." I said as I quickly grabbed my keys and headed for the Coffee Shop. After a couple of minutes driving, I found the place. When I went to park my truck, I saw Jake was leaning on his car already waiting for me. He smiled at me when I pulled over to the parking spot next to his car. He opened my door and chuckled.

"What?" I said as I looked at him trying to hold his laugh.

"And here I was yesterday worrying about me having trouble getting here at nine in the morning."

"Hey, I was held up by Charlie. You can blame him later if you want."

"Sure sure. Come on, I'm starving"

"When are you not?" He laughed as he closed my truck door after I got out and we both headed inside the coffee shop. We picked a table for two near the window since we were having one of the few sunny days here at Forks. The waiter came to our table and handed us the menu to order. I started looking through when Jake started to order.

"I'll have the two eggs scrambled with sausage and toast and could I include two hotcakes with that? Oh, and can you bring us a jar of orange juice? Thank you." I looked astonished at Jake as the waiter nodded and wrote his complete order.

"Um, I'll just have the french toasts, thanks." I ordered as I folded the menu and give it back to the waiter. After the waiter was gone, I turned to look at Jake again astounded after everything that he ordered. "Are you sure you're going to be able to eat all of that?" He smirked at me but then change his face to a serious one.

"Listen Bella, about the other day. When you told me you where-" He hesitated a little bit as he couldn't even finish the sentence but kept trying to explain. "Your news did take me by surprise that day and even if I knew that there was a possibility of you getting engaged, I still wasn't prepared to hear it."

"Jake-"

"No. Let me finish. Before you say anything, I never meant to hurt you that day with what I said. I just, I need you to understand Bella that I had to ask you to leave. When I lose my control many things can happen, even ones that I don't want to. And I still don't know how to control my anger that well so I hope that you understand that I am not sorry for kicking you out. Please don't take it the wrong way. And about the news, well it's you're decision and I guess I'll just have to respect it."

"So you're okay with it?"

"Not quite okay with it, but I'll just have to deal with it." I felt like a weight was taken off my shoulder after I talked to Jacob. Seeing he was okay with me once more made me breathe normal again as I felt all the anxiety from this morning leave me. After everything between both of us went back to normal, he was my Jacob once again. "And well about the food question, trust me I can eat my entire order and everything you leave in this table." I laughed at him.

"I'm sorry I hurt you Jake. It wasn't my intention at all."

"I know. Let's just talk about something else. Tell me about what happened with Victoria yesterday. I'm pretty sure I would rather enjoy hearing your version of the story instead of having to hear Embry's thoughts as he brags about his victory over Dracula's girlfriend." I smiled at him. There was something mesmerizing about his eyes that just kept me looking at them and had me lost for a moment. I took myself out of the trance I was in to start talking about Victoria though there was not much to say but the fact that she got away.

"I don't know what he has to brag about. She escaped once again."

"You're safe. That's what matters." I rolled my eyes at him as the waiter came with our orders. We thank him after he set the plates down and started eating our breakfast. I watched as Jake started to eat his hotcakes first. It was still hard to believe he could eat so much now.

"Well I don't really know if there's a lot more to say about Victoria. She appeared almost in front of me then Embry came through the trees and got in front of my truck ready to fight her off. A couple of minutes later when Sam and the others appeared she ran away. I told them to go after her but Sam just took my truck and drove me back to my house while the others followed us through the forest." He looked away after I told him my version of what had happened yesterday. It wasn't my entire version since I left out the part where I was secretly hoping that he would have come out of the forest instead of Sam or Embry, but that part he didn't need to know.

"We'll catch her soon. We've been getting better lately at being able to smell the traces she's leaving." I smiled at him again.

"I'm not worried. I feel like the daughter of the president of the United States with everyone trying to protect me, you know." I started picking at my food while he laughed at my comment.

"I'm sure you do, but hey it's not our fault that you got yourself into this mess in the first place."

"Oh great, I didn't know I had a huge sign in my forehead that reads 'troublemaker'."

"No, more like 'trouble magnet'. You're actually excelling at being one too." As we both laughed at his comment I noticed that this is what I really needed. Jake always found a way of taking me away from all the trouble that normally was formed around me.

"This was a good idea. I haven't eaten French toasts in a while."

"Why don't you make them? You know how to cook."

"I thought the expert chef here was you and I was nothing but an apprentice."

"Well you know you are welcome to keep learning from me anytime you want. It will only cost you the gas you use to get to my house and a promise of a good laugh once you're there."

"Wow, you're so full of yourself."

"Well you started it. Hey what are you doing later today?"

"I don't know. Why?"

"Well I was thinking on going to the beach. You know, relax today. Do you want to come?" I was silent for a moment. "Before you say no, think about it. I promise we'll have fun. You're not going to regret it I assure you."

"Are you begging me to go?"

"Is it that obvious?" I laughed at his response. "Please, I just want to get away for a couple of hours, have some peace you know. It'll be like old times." I thought about it. The beach was not exactly one of my greatest places to be but there was a part of me that felt like a little adventure wouldn't hurt me at all. Besides, he was right on the part where I needed to get away but I didn't know how I could get rid of Edward so that I could go with Jake to the beach.

"I'll try."

"Bella… try? What are you afraid of?"

"I have to say something to Edward unless you want him to come with us." His face made me laugh so badly. He made a face as if he had just eaten the worst food he had ever tasted and found no way of being able to take the taste out of his mouth.

"Just tell him Charlie's coming to watch a game with Billy and dad invited you to come visit us."

"He'll know. He can read his thoughts, you know that."

"What if I say I'll take care of it, would you change your mind and come?" I hesitated for a moment, but then I nodded.

"Fine, you find a way and I'll go." He smiled and looked at me with hopeful eyes. As I looked back at him I noticed how he looked like a little kid on Christmas after opening his present and receiving just what he had wanted all along. It was so amazing how he could be so serious one moment and change so quickly to being a small kid full of life in just seconds.

"I promise you won't regret it."

"I'm pretty sure I won't." I said in between laughs. While I had finished already my plate, Jake was still on his second. I finished my orange juice and kept looking at him as he ate his second plate. "Can I ask you something? But you must promise me you will be honest with me." He swallowed his food and looked up from his plate.

"I've always been honest with you Bella." I nodded at him.

"Would you tell me if I were hurting you?" I could see that my question took him by surprise but he looked away, as if thinking what to say, and then back at me.

"No."

"Why? Is it really that hard to just let me know?"

"I know that if I tell you, I would just be hurting you." He calmly said before starting to eat again but I wasn't ready to give it a rest yet.

"Don't you think it's a little unfair that you won't allow yourself to hurt me but you allow me to hurt you even without me knowing it?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Bella, you're not going to win this one so just let it go." He said and smiled at me as he took a sip from his orange juice.

"No. I want to know why."

"Fine, because even if you hurt me I know I'll be able to deal with it sooner or later."

"If, don't you mean WHEN?"

"Why are you so inclined in fighting this Bella?"

"Because, Jacob, you're my best friend. Don't you think you're hurting me more by just not letting me know, or do you just think that I would never find out?"

"Okay, let's say for instance that I let you know WHEN you hurt me. What can you do about it? Will you be able to make it go away?"

"Well I can try not doing it again or just not mention anything that might hurt you while I'm around you." He shook his head and looked away.

"That won't work."

"Why?"

"Because Bella," He looked seriously at me "if I were to tell you, you wouldn't be able to be yourself around me. You would constantly be feeling the need to protect me from yourself which will only push you farther away from me. Bottom line is, right now I have you in my life and that's not something I am willing to compromise."

"I'm not some fragile doll that can't handle being hurt Jake." I told him. I was so tired of people trying to protect me every time.

"You're welcome to prove me wrong Bella, but it's only fair to let you know that right now history is on my side." He smirked. This time I did let it go as I watched him eat the rest of his breakfast. What he had said was entirely true though I would never confess it to him. To admit that he was right would only just inflate his ego more than it was right now. "Speaking about history, I do remember when I told you about my new car. Well, is not actually new, but I did finish it already. Would you like me to give you a small tour in it?"

"What can you actually show me that I still haven't seen in here Jake? It's Forks!"

"Hey! It's not about Forks, it's about my car. I'm pretty sure Forks will look different to you once you see it from my car's window." I laughed at his proud way of defending his car.

"I have my truck here you know…"

"Just leave it here for a couple of minutes. I'm sure it's not going anywhere without your keys and besides it's only a ride." I smiled at him and gave in. After all, I also did remembered when he told me he was finishing putting it together.

"You know, I thought I was supposed to be a good influence on you. Now you're manipulating me into things."

"Not even."

"Yes even! Tell me when have you wanted something from me and still haven't been able to get away with it?"

"You'd be surprised. Come on." As soon as he finished his breakfast, he paid for our food and we started walking towards his car.

"I can't believe you put all of this together." I said as I looked Jake's car over. I remembered when he put our bikes together, but it wasn't the same. This is an entire car we are talking about. It wasn't exactly new as he had said, but it wasn't bad. I felt so proud of him after seeing his car completely finished. He was amazing at putting things together.

"It's not much."

"No, seriously Jake this is awesome." I said excitedly.

"I know is not a Volvo, but it runs."

"Are you kidding me?" I looked at him. "Jake, you build this. Volvos are made by machines you know. You like took everything from scratch and put it together piece by piece and it runs." I turned to look at the car again. "This is really cool. You know what? Now that I think about it, I can actually say I helped you put this together." He looked at me confusedly.

"What are you taking about? I don't remember seeing you anywhere near when I was making this car."

"Oh, but I do remember a special message you gave to me on my prom night. My message got you some of the parts you used in this car. So technically, you wouldn't have been able to finish this baby without me." I saw him rolled his eyes at me and I chuckled as he opened the passengers' door for me.

"Just get in Bella." I laughed as I got in. He closed the door after I was in and walked over to the drivers' side. After he got in, we started driving through the road. I didn't even know where we were going, but it didn't really matter. The entire peacefulness and the view I had through my window compensated for the unknown destination.

"Jake, what are you planning to do once you graduate?" He looked at me confused and shrugged.

"I don't know. Why?"

"Well, you are going to start your senior year right now. It's usually normal to know or at least have an idea on what you want to do after high school."

"Are you trying to give me advice on how to be normal?"

"Ouch!" His comment earned him a friendly slap to the arm as I chuckled away his comment. Although I might have to admit, he is not that far away from the truth. He tried to fake his hurt although I am pretty sure he said it just to not make me feel bad. I know he was a lot stronger now than a couple of years back. My slap definitely didn't hurt him at all.

"You deserved it" I chuckled. "Besides, it's only a question."

"Mine was too!" He jokingly protested.

"Sure sure." I said as I rolled my eyes at him. After a couple of minutes in silence, I heard him take a deep breath before breaking it.

"I wanted to go to a university outside Forks area, but you know... things change after you find yourself not being able to control your own future anymore." I noticed a little regret in his voice as he told me about his past plans. This may sound selfish but for a moment there I had stopped breathing when he said he was going away. I couldn't picture a life were Jake was not in it.

"Then perhaps is a good thing this happened." I said as I turned away from the window to look him in the eyes. Again I was mesmerized by them. They had a strange light inside that had me hypnotized. It was the intensity of his look what had me questioning for the first time if I had made the right decision about my future. He was the first one to break the look as he turned away to watch the road again. I turned to watch the view out from my window again when I realized the passage looked awfully familiar. Many times last year I had driven through this passage looking for inner peace. It was even embossed unconsciously on my mind.

"You're kidnapping me!" I jokingly said as I realized that he was driving straight to his house.

"Well, it's actually not kidnapping when you go along with it Bella. Take it as if… I'm doing you a favor."

"What makes you think I want to go along with it?"

"Come on! You can't fool me Bells. I thought I had already told you that."

"You're so full of yourself." He chuckled. About half an hour later we passed his house down the road as he continued driving straight down the road. I looked at him confused.

"Okay, didn't we just pass your house?"

"We're not going to my house."

"Where are you taking me hostage then?" He laughed.

"I want to show you something."

"And that requires not telling me where we're going?"

"Will you wait and see? Really, is not that far now." I kept looking down the road he was driving through as we started to go uphill. I tried to guess where he was taking me but failed miserably. Not knowing where he was going had me feeling a little excited. I noticed that lately I had been feeling like this whenever Jake was around. He was so spontaneous that I never knew what to expect next from him. The only thing I knew was that around him I felt alive. We finally stopped up hill. When I looked to my left, I knew immediately where we were.

"Come on." We both opened the door and got out of the car. I walked to his side as I took in the beautiful view of the ocean. He started walking forward and I followed behind him till we were standing close to the cliff; His cliff. The sun's reflection in the water along with the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks had me stunned. It was indeed a beautiful sight.

"Jake, this is beautiful." I turned to find him starring at me.

"It is complete now." He said in a low voice.

"What is?" He looked away towards the ocean.

"Do you want to jump?" I stared at him waiting for the 'kidding' word, but it never came.

"No. That's too deep."

"You already did it once." I tried not to think of that moment.

"Um, yeah and I almost drown, remember?" I still couldn't believe he was serious about this.

"Come on, just this once. Don't think about anything, just be free. I'll be right behind you." He insisted. I thought about the first time I had jumped from this cliff. Everything had changed since then; even me. I wanted to do it. Just forget about everything that was happening in my life and just do it. It was the perfect opportunity. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. My mind was set. I opened my eyes and ran towards the cliff. I smiled as I jumped from it and spread my arms before welcoming the ocean. I felt exactly what Jake experienced every time he jumped from it… freedom.

Just like he said, I felt him pulled me over to shore. This time I was conscious of how he had his hand on my side and helped me out of the water. He dragged me out until I could put my feet on the sand and started walking beside him. But just like the clumsy idiot I was, I tripped and made us both fall near the shore. I saw him laugh at me and couldn't help myself. I started laughing along with him as I tried to get up. I felt so at ease and a bit childish. It was refreshing.

I saw him tried to get up again and I smirked as he looked at me confused. Before he could react to my smirk, I pushed him down the water and started running to shore laughing out loud. I turned my face to look back as he started running after me.

"You're dead Bells!" I heard him yelled at me as I kept laughing at him. I felt his arms grabbed me from behind as he lifted me out of the sand.

"Ahhh! Let me go." I started kicking and screaming as I heard him laugh at my complaining.

"My pleasure." I couldn't say anything else for he let go of me right on the water again. I got up and saw him laughing at me before he turned around to walk out of the beach. I ran to him and jumped on his back. I tried to overthrow him into the water again but he was way stronger than me. He took my hands, which were at his neck, and turned me around to face him. We were both laughing so hard we were a little out of breath. It was as if we both went back to being kids again without a care in the world. I looked at his eyes as our laugh went down to chuckles now.

"You're mean!"

"You started it!" He said chuckling. I kept looking at his eyes. For the first time I could see Jacob entirely as he was. I could see the happiness in his eyes. I could see the walls he had built between us since Edward's return shatter in front of me. I could see all of his restraints broke without him even noticing. And then I saw my downfall as I got caught in the intensity of his look. A current of shock went through my entire body as I felt his hand caress my cheek. I unconsciously began to close my eyes before feeling his lips slowly crashing mine. Nothing else mattered right now. I began to taste his salty lips as he got more demanding and possessive and pulled me towards him with his arms around my torso. I couldn't stop. There was no way I could fight this. Or better yet, I found myself not wanting to fight this. I put my hands on his face and then around his neck to deepen the kiss. He kept kissing me senseless until he broke the kiss and kept his forehead touching mine as we were both out of breath. I was about to say something when he put a finger to my lips.

"Don't say anything." He whispered to me. "I'll take you to your truck." My brain was clearly not functioning well right now. I couldn't believe what had just happened. I needed to think.

End of Chapter: Well, I hope you guys liked it. Now please give me your thoughts on how should I continue with this story and as always please review it.